There are 20 items on the agenda. The Council meeting will begin at 7 P.M. at Hartford City Hall in Council Chambers. The next Council meeting will be Monday, December 13, 2004 at 7 P.M.

Historic Preservation: The Council will vote on several ordinances aimed at protecting historic properties. If passed the ordinances would create an Historic Preservation Commission which would protect about 4,000 properties in Hartford. The ordinances would cover properties on the National Register of Historic Places, the State register of Historic Places, and historic districts. Restrictions on demolitions and changes to the exterior of properties would be utilized to prevent the corruption of the historic integrity of the properties. Any proposed exterior changes would have to conform to the historic design manual which will be provided by the Historic Preservation Commission. These ordinances have been to public hearing and are on the agenda for action. (Items #7 and 8)

Colt Firearms Complex: On the recommendation of Mayor Eddie Perez, the Council will consider a resolution adding the Colt Firearms complex to the Section I Redevelopment Plan for Charter Oak-South Green. Once passed, the complex would be eligible for Tax Increment Financing. Tax Increment Financing is a financing mechanism which uses growth in taxes associated with new development to pay for costs associated with the development. (Item #1)

Tax Increment Financing: The Council will also be considering a resolution which would authorize the Hartford Redevelopment Agency to accept, review, and recommend TIF applications in the same way that the Hartford Economic Development Commission does. (Item #2)

Free Speech and Conduct in Retail Establishments: The Council will receive a report from the Labor and Workforce Development Committee regarding an ordinance that would guarantee freedom of speech in retail establishments on city-owned property. The committee report does not make a recommendation about passage of the ordinance. According to the report, the Mayor, while in favor, has some issues with the ordinance. The actual ordinance is not on the agenda. (Item #5)

If you have any questions about the agenda call Greg Vickers at CREN, 509-3701 or Richard Frieder at the Hartford Public Library, 695-6365. The Council Preview is a joint project of the Citizens' Research Education Network and the Hartford Public Library.